HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 615 Draft 01 2024-2026A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF HAWAI‘I, DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, TO RECEIVE A GRANT FOR THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
PROSECUTION PROJECT.
WHEREAS, Section 46-7 of the Hawai‘i Revised Statutes requires the consent of the Council in order for the County to enter into an agreement with the federal government or any other
public body respecting action to be taken pursuant to any of the powers granted to the County by law and furnish, expend, and receive any funds or other assistance in connection with
projects being or to be undertaken pursuant to those powers; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of the Attorney General, Crime Prevention and Justice Assistance Division, has authorized $57,983 in federally derived funds, contingent upon
a County match of $19,328, to be provided to the County as a grant for the Domestic Violence Prosecution Project, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as “Exhibit
A”; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney wishes to enter into an agreement with the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of the Attorney General, to receive these grant funds; and
WHEREAS, these monies, derived from the STOP formula grant provided by the United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, will be used to partially fund one deputy
prosecuting attorney for vertical prosecution of misdemeanor domestic violence and protective order crimes on Hawai‘i Island when the victim is an adult woman; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney has identified physical violence against adult women as a serious and ongoing problem in the County; and
WHEREAS, the Family Court deputy prosecuting attorneys within the Prosecutor’s Office are responsible for the prosecution of all misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence; and
WHEREAS, assigning a single Deputy Prosecuting Attorney to focus on East Hawaiʻi non-jury domestic violence cases promotes continuity, builds victim trust, strengthens evidence-based
prosecution strategies, and reduces reliance on victim testimony alone; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that, pursuant to Section 46-7 of the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental
agreement with the State of Hawai‘i, Department of the Attorney General as specified in “Exhibit A”.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable C. Kimo Alameda, Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi; Diane T. Nakagawa, Director of
Finance; and the Honorable Kelden B. A. Waltjen, Prosecuting Attorney.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
JENNIFER KAGIWADA
Council Member
BY REQUEST OF THE:
Prosecuting Attorney